Playing-ball.



N0. 700,I24. Patented May l3, I902.

E. KEMPSHALL.

UNITED STATES ATEN'T FFICE.

ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEMPSHALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PLAYING' BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 700,124, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed April 4,1902- Serial Noll,4=26.- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELEAZER KEMPSHALL,

acitizen of the United States, residing in Bos ton, in the county of Suffolk and State'of Mas- 5 sachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing-Balls, of- Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing-balls, and especially to those which are subject to severe usage, as in the game of golf; and its object is to reduce the liability of the ball becoming li-pped or out by'an'implement or by striking a rock. I also aim to reduce the sensitiveness of the ball whenstruck a light blow, so as to adapt it fortputting, without, how- .ever, impairing its flying power when given a heavy blow.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a part-sectional view of a completed playing-ball constructed in ac cordance with my present invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one means which may be employed in the process of manufacture of the ball. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in section, showing more clearly the manner in which the woven fabric casings are folded in at the edges of the hemispherical cups or segments constitut' g the outer structure of the ball. Fig. 4 is; similar View to Fig. 3,

or cement at the meeting edges of the hemi spherical cups or balls.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be ,stated that in con structing my improved playing-baud employ a suitable spherical core or filler, pref erably of yielding material, such as rubber, to which I apply a suitable body structure made up of hemispherical cups or segments of gutta-percha or other plastic materiahthe said hemispherical cups or segmentsbeing joined or welded together at'the edges under compression in suitable heated dies for the purpose. Prior to the application of the gutta-percha cups or segments to the core or fillerI apply to the outer surface of each of the former a close fitting hemispherical cup or segment of woven 1 fabric, the edges of which are turned inwardly, so as to partially overlap the edges or meeting faces of said gutta-percha cups or segments and leaving showing the use or employment of a binderenough of the material of the latter cups or segments bared or exposed to afford sufficient welding-surface. \Vhen the structureis compressed in the finishing-dies, the gutta-percha cups or segments are softened by the heat of qthe dics and the material of such cups or pleted playing-ballconstructed and. organized in accordance with my present iinprovements, the same comprising, preferably, a spherical core or filler a, of yieldable material, such as rubber, and to the surface of said yieldable core or filler is applied a suitable body for the ball, comprising in the present instance hemispherical segments 1) and c, of gutta-percha or similar material, which are united at d in the formation of a perfect sphere inclosing or enveloping the said core or filler a and preferably holding the same under compression. Applied to the outer surface of each of said hemispherical cups or segmentsof gutta-percha is a simi -lar cup or segment of woven fabric e, having the edge thereof turned inwardly at f to partially overlap the edge of the said guttapercha' cup or segment-,substantially as shown in Fig.2, leaving enough of the material of said gutta-percha cups or segments bared or uncovered at the meeting faces thereof, as

indicated at g, by which to secure a perfectly-welded joint at the time of compression of the ball structure in the finishingdies. Thebrimsformedbytheturned-in edges of the woven fabric casin g of the gutta-percha cups or segments become embedded in the material of said cupsor segmentspand it is evident that the fabric casings are securely locked to the body of the ballineamanner not to slip thereon nor to buckle or wrinkle at any point on the surface of the ball.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the structure as placed between the dies in readiness for compression.

Fig. 3 represents more clearly the manner in which the edges of the woven fabric casings are turned in at the edges or meeting faces of the gutta-percha cups orhemispheres,

while at Fig. 4 I have shown a similar em-.

bodiment, comprising, however, the addition of a cement at the joint, (indicated at m.) I may use this cement as a means of additional security of such joint as made up by the meeting edges of the gutta-percha cups or segments and the inelosing woven fabric cups or segments; but I am not limited to such use in the practice of my present invention, as will be understood.

On compression of the ball structure in the heated finishing-dies the meshes orinterstices of the brims or turned-in edges of the woven fabric cups or hemispherical segments become thoroughly filled with the softened gnttapercha, and it is apparent that the said brims or turned-in portions become firmly rooted in the ball.

It is to be understood that I am not limited to the details of construction and organization herein set forth, since departures may be made therefrom and still be within the scope of my present invention.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A playing-ball having a cloth cover, the ball comprising spherical segments of plastic material welded together, and the cover having inturned portions which are locked between the segments.

2. A ball having a cloth cover, the ball comprising spherical segments of gutta-percha welded together, and the cover having inturned portions which are locked between said segments.

3. A playing-ball having a cloth cover, the ball comprising a core and hemispherical segments of plastic material welded together upon said core and holding the same under compression, and the cover having inturned portions which are locked between said segments.

4. A ball having a cloth cover, the ball comprising a sphere or core of soft rubber and hemispherical segments of gutta percha welded together upon said core and holding the same under compression, and the cover having inturned portions which are locked between said segments.

5. A playing-ball havinga cloth cover made in sections, the ball comprising spherical segments of plastic material Welded together, each of said segments having one of the coversections, and the latter having inturned portions or brims which are locked between said segments.

ELEAZER KEh'IPSIIAIlL.

\Vitnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

